Howard Hunt was a CIA operative, a Bay of Pigs veteran, a Watergate conspirator and spy novelist. He also confessed to his involvement in the assassination of JFK, implicating Lyndon Baines Johnson, Cord Meyer and others. However, aside from this one confession in 2003 he had always denied the rumors and theories, under oath to Congressional investigations, in interviews, even suing news outlets that alleged he was part of one of the highest profile crimes of the century. Even in his autobiography, which was published years after his supposed confession, he denies having anything to do with it. Was this just the CIA editing his book before publication, as we know they did, or is it something more complex?

In this episode I ask whether we should take Hunt's confession seriously. Why would Hunt admit in 2003, on tape no less, to his involvement in the JFK assassination, only to then completely deny it in his autobiography several years later? Indeed, why did he make a confession at all, having always denied it? If this is a false confession - or even a real one that is then contradicted and denied, then what is the reason, the purpose?

Three FBI Field Offices, Four Agents, One Linguist, and A Bucket Full of Dirties … Literally Right & Left

Welcome to the 24th edition of Probable Cause. This is our third episode on the ‘Real’ case of Dennis Hastert. In our first segment I briefly explained the case and why it is likely to be dropped or lost-on-purpose, and provided you with the broad picture of involved interests and those with much at stake if the case were to proceed as a real case. In our second episode we went back twenty years to when the new FBI covert and illegal operations targeting high-profile US officials, elected and appointed, began.

For this episode I’ll be covering the three-year period between 1999 and 2002 when the Executive Branch’s ‘Perfect Plan’ became complicated by inadvertently collected unwanted information, loss of control over lower FBI agents leading multiple and overlapping operations, and the change of administration in January 2001- the period when their good plan proved to be far from a perfect plan. During this period the executive branch’s select COINTELPRO II bucket turned into a big can of worms- a can that was filled with not only dirty Republican representatives but dirty Democrats as well. A can that contained not only elected officials but several high-profile appointed figures- some of whom became major visible players in the new administration.

As always, our next episode will be based on your reaction, critique, responses and questions posed in the comments section below.

As a member of the Federal Communications Commission, Michael Copps cast the only dissenting vote to the approval of Comcast's acquisition of NBC/Universal. In this conversation, he details his strong opposition to the new proposed $45 billion merger of Comcast with Time-Warner Cable, which would expand Comcast's dominance of cable distribution to 57%. We discuss the vertical integration of Comcast, with TV and film production at NBC/U and distribution via phone, broadband and paid cable. Copps refers frequently to "the public interest" requirements of the Communications Act, which are rarely considered in the approvals of deals like this consolidation by Comcast. We also discuss Net Neutrality and the new proposal from FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, former top lobbyist for the cable TV and wireless phone industries.

*Michael Copps served as FCC Commissioner from 2001 to 2009, spent 12 years as a Senate staffer, and was a history professor at Loyola University, New Orleans. He is currently an adviser on Media and Democracy at Common Cause.

Ryan Dawson Presents Julie Lévesque

When is murdering innocent people Terrorism and when is it "Freedom Fighting?" When is resisting a brutal military occupation Freedom Fighting and when is it Terrorism? Well it all depends on who is telling you about it. Julie Lévesque is a Global Research journalist who has herself been shot at by Israelis, joins us today to give some analysis on terrorist acts in Boston and in Canada. In Particular we are discussing her article Boston Bombings a Web of Lies. In the wake of any crisis manufactured or not there is always a push to erode civil liberties and enhance the powers of the very profitable security state. Don't surrender to fear.

“More than Music” with Rebel Diaz

This week, Eric sits down with hip hop artists Rebel Diaz for a wide-ranging discussion about music, art, politics, and much more. Eric and the guys (RodStarz & G1) discuss the political and class nature of hip hop and why we should be wary of romanticizing hip hop and its legacy. They also tell us about the Rebel Diaz Art Collective and the politically motivated assault against the space and themselves as community organizers and leaders. Additionally, Eric and Rebel Diaz explore the legacy of Hugo Chavez and the global impact he had. Specifically, they examine the importance of the Bolivarian Revolution both in the context of Latin America and poor people around the world.

Rebel Diaz is an independent hip hop group based in the South Bronx, New York City. They are activists and organizers, as well as widely respected performers with fans all over the world. Follow all their work at rebeldiaz.com. Donate to their IndieGoGo campaign here http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/i-am-rdac-bx.

U2- “Angel of Harlem”

Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen make up the fabulous U2 and are always a great group to listen to whether live or in the studio. Picking out one of their songs for this week’s BFP/Jamiol Soothing the Beast wasn't easy with so many incredible songs to pick from. I finally settled on one of my favorites Angel of Harlem. Sit back and enjoy this live performance of a very cool song by U2....DJPJ [Read more...]

The Causes & Consequences of the European Debt Crisis

What created the European debt crisis? Was it the "welfare states" as repeated by the mainstream (and even many in the alternative) media, or was it the European Union itself? Was it the euro, the trade policies, or perhaps the major international banks? It is important to look at the causes of the crisis, so that we may better understand the solutions which are being proposed. Over the past few weeks, top 'Eurocrats' and central bankers from around the world have been declaring their desire for deeper union: for a fiscal, political, and banking union of Europe. The 'solutions' proposed are, in fact, ways to strengthen that which created the crisis in the first place. Problem, reaction, solution. Unfortunately for the people of Europe and beyond, they must - as the people always do - bear the brunt, the hardship, and the pain.